The Lotus Esprit GTl is an all-new race car built to be fully competitive in
international long-distance sports car racing. The turbo va engine is developed from
the new roadgoing Lotus va, and will ensure class-leading performance. A works
team is ente red in the famous Le Mans 24 Hour Race and in the l l-race BPR International GT Championship.

The new car, Lotus type number 114, designed by Martin Ogilvie, is the latest in a
famous line of sports-ra cing cars from the British company. It is designed to compete in the top (GT1) category of international endurance sports car racing , and to be
capable of challenging for outright victory against the other famous names in this
fast-growing category. Last year, the lone works GT3 Lotus Esprit won its class at
the Silverstone round of the International GT series. Driven by Alessandro Zanardi
and Alex Portman, the car was running as high as third place overall, and finished
fourth – a testament to the capabilities of the Lotus chassis .

This year, the all-new chassis is enhanced with a new roll-cage. carbon brakes, a six-speed sequential gearbox, Michelin Pilot Sx tyres , and of course the all-new production-based Lotus turbolintercooled va engine - an exciting new package with which to take on the GT1 establishment. The car will be running on the minimum weight limit (900 kg). With the new engine del ivering 520 bhp from the restricted intake, the car will be competitive, and will benefit from better specific fuel consumption and reduced tyre and brake wear , important in endurance racing .

The BPR International GT Championship opens at the Paul Ricard circuit on 3 March,
and the Lotus works team has entered one car for this first race. Experienced former
F1 and sports car driver Jan Lammers will drive for the season, as will Alex Portman
who partnered Zanardi so ably iast year. Lotus intend to field two cars for the rest of
the season and full details of drivers and corporate supporters will be announced as
the season gets under way.